Squeezing the Oil Out of Papermaking

Abstract

The paper making recipe calls for heavy helpings of natural resources such as air, water, fiber and combustibles. Economic stresses have already trimmed most ingredients, but papermaking can still be considered as an energy sponge using the equivalent of 3 to 5 barrels (more than one half ton of oil) per ton of product. There is no question that our processes are now burdened with heavy energy penalties and eventually at least one barrel will be deleted from our established processing habits.

Meeting this new level is easy in new mills, but reaching these targets in all mills will not be easy and should not be expected to happen over-night. Everyone knows that conservation progress has been slow and probably one of the main reasons has been the lack of man hours. Process revisions and retrofitting are time consuming and labor intensive, and this part of the papermaking recipe must be adjusted accordingly if conservation is to accelerate. The text of the paper cites existing energy levels in three different types of paper mills, along with targets for the future. Suggestions are offered on how these targets can be met, as well as the priority areas which will give the best R.O.I. and least risk.